As always your words hit home with me. I have an aunt who has been a nun for over 50 years and she is very resentful of Deacons. She feels it diminishes her service for one thing. There is no talking to her on the topic just a willingness to listen and pray. As an idea for a post why don't you address something to those of us still in formation. I'm sure you remember that it gets a little frustrating, lonely, confusing, and just down right difficult, at times. Thanks again for your service.

Couple of things: my "list" was not intended in any kind of "priority order" except for the deacon coming LAST. That was the point I was trying to make.

While I don't disagree with your comment in practical terms, I must make the theological/sacramental point that the foundation of ordained ministry is found in Christ and in the action of the Spirit invoked during ordination. That's the true foundation.

Building upon that foundation, of course, are the family and ecclesial communities within whom we live and serve. But even celibate deacons, including widowed deacons, find their true foundation in Christ.

Wonderful letter, Bill. Thank you so much for reminding us of what we were called from and what we are called to be. I intend to share this with my brother deacons on our retreat this weekend. God's peace...

Folloing the great graces that flowed from the Year for Priests, we are proposing the observation of a Holy Year for Nuns and we're writing to the Holy See to suggest it. Please feel free to adopt the suggestion and to promote it:

About Deacon Bill

After spending high school and college in Catholic seminary studying for the priesthood, I joined the US Navy and served for twenty-two years. My family and I lived in a variety of places around the world, and my duties involved service as a Hebrew linguist, a Russian linguist and other intelligence-related assignments. After retiring as a Commander in 1993, I have been working in a variety of ministries. I was ordained a deacon of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC in 1990 while still on active duty. As both a lay minister and now as a deacon, I have been involved in adult faith formation, jail and prison ministry, and youth ministry. Even before ordination I served as a parish life coordinator, under canon 517.2, for a small parish community in Maine while stationed at the Navy base in Winter Harbor, Maine. I have the BA (Philosophy) from St. Ambrose University, an MA (Education) from Pepperdine University, an MA (Pastoral Theology) from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, and the Ph.D. (Theology) from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.